The Simpsons

The Simpsons

Parental Guide

Clever, fast-paced cartoon with edgy humor.

Consumerism

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Drinking, drugs, & smoking

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Language

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Positive messages

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Positive role models

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Sex

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Violence

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Parents need to know that the jokes in the long-running The Simpsons often zip past so quickly that kids won't get the deeper statements hidden within. Life in Springfield can be chaotic, and Homer could very well be the "do not try this at home" poster boy. You'll hear frequent "hell" and "damn," usually uttered by Bart. Homer frequently chokes Bart, but it's played for laughs. Religion, morality, ethics, and other sacred cows are mocked. Halloween specials are particularly violent, with characters killing each other in gruesome ways that may disturb young or sensitive viewers. Characters sometimes ingest food or drink that brings on psychedelic trips. Naked rear ends (animated) are sometimes visible, and sex is the subject of jokes (which kids may not get). Beer is consumed in every episode, bad habits are obliged, and ignorance and mockery are the norm, but somehow everyone gets along in the end.

Lisa and Bart investigate a new candy from Krusty; Homer asks for Marge's help when he decides to ask for a promotion at the nuclear plant; news anchor Ken Brockman struggles with the changing media world.

Season 28 Episode 4:

Treehouse of Horror XXVII

Mr. Burns initiates a contest in which the children of Springfield battle each other; Lisa's imaginary friend becomes jealous of her real friends; Moe tells Bart that the bar patrons are really covert agents.

Professor Frink uses science to transform himself into a more attractive man; when Marge, Bart, and Lisa visit Grampa for Valentine's Day, they find the old folks in a drug-induced hallucination that lets them relive happy memories.

Professor Frink uses science to transform himself into a more attractive man; when Marge, Bart, and Lisa visit Grampa for Valentine's Day, they find the old folks in a drug-induced hallucination that lets them relive happy memories.

After learning he has narcolepsy, Homer gets drunk instead of going home with his medicine; a visit to a marriage counselor leads to a trial separation for Homer and Marge; Homer dates a woman in her 20s.

When Bart reads a set of Aramaic symbols, he and Lisa find themselves transported to an alternate universe; a member of Moe's gang wants to leave the life for a girl; the family is visited by former versions of themselves.

When Bart reads a set of Aramaic symbols, he and Lisa find themselves transported to an alternate universe; a member of Moe's gang wants to leave the life for a girl; the family is visited by former versions of themselves.

Venture capitalists take an interest in Moe's homemade whiskey; Grampa hurts himself and learns he prefers being in the care of Bart over the nursing home; Lisa finds the hologram of a jazz legend offensive.

Bart and Milhouse explore the perks of adulthood following a shaving experiment; Marge tries to save Maggie from the dangers of children's TV; includes a broadcast of Oscar-nominated short film "Maggie Simpson in: The Longest Daycare."

In ancient times, Homer and Marge observe the Mayans predicting that 2012 will be the end of the world; Marge faces the consequences of an unholy pact she once made; Bart travels back in time to buy a comic book.

Marge and Homer go on a date, but Marge is embarrassed when Homer talks during the movie; when Homer gets hurt and can't work, he tries to learn how to be a better husband from a man (guest voice Bryan Cranston) he believes is a movie star.

Marge and Lisa's plans for a mother-daughter Valentine's Day take a turn when Lisa falls head over heels for an intellectual romantic (guest voice Michael Cera); Bart and Milhouse investigate Springfield Elementary's legends.

Homer creates a team, including author Neil Gaiman, to write the next hit "tween" book; after receiving an advance copy of the work from his publisher, Homer learns there's more to the business than he imagined.

A boulder traps Homer's arm when he takes a drive through a canyon; a spider bite paralyzes Homer; Flanders becomes a vigilante by night; Bart and Milhouse travel to a distant planet to obtain an extract.

When Cheech and Chong stop in Springfield while on their reunion tour, Homer impresses Cheech so much he asks him to replace Chong; Principal Skinner forms a new comedy team with Chong; Marge tries to help a hoarder.

When Cheech and Chong stop in Springfield while on their reunion tour, Homer impresses Cheech so much he asks him to replace Chong; Principal Skinner forms a new comedy team with Chong; Marge tries to help a hoarder.

Fearing that she will end up like Marge, Lisa pledges to focus solely on her academics and not get distracted by other things; Bart puts Nelson in his place and unintentionally earns the title of school bully.

Worried about the effects of violent video games, Marge encourages Bart and Milhouse to play board games; Lisa becomes smitten with a new student, a vampire; while on a second honeymoon, Homer and Marge rescue a castaway who escaped from his ship.

Marge sends Lisa to a performing arts camp, where counselors and fellow campers inspire her to embrace her creative side; upon returning to Springfield, Lisa grows restless with her boring suburban lifestyle.

Season 21 Episode 15:

Stealing First Base

Bart and his classmate, Nikki (guest voice Sarah Silverman), develop a flirtatious rapport; first lady Michelle Obama (guest voice Angela Bassett) comes to Lisa's defense when she is ostracized for being an overachiever.

Milhouse takes the fall for a prank he and Bart pull together; Bart falls for a volunteer (guest voice Anne Hathaway) at Grampa's nursing home; Lisa predicts Springfield's future and is depressed by what she sees.

Lenny wins the lottery and invites the Simpson family to a celebratory party at a luxurious hotel; Bart meets his exact look-alike, Simon, a member of the richest family in Springfield, and they decide to switch places.

Season 20 Episode 2:

Lost Verizon

Bart takes a job at a country club retrieving golf balls to help save up money to buy a cell phone; while watching celebrities at the course, Bart finds Denis Leary's cell phone and makes prank calls pretending to be Leary.

When Mayor Quimby realizes the city of Springfield has gone broke, Lisa goes through the town's financial records and discovers millions in uncollected city taxes; Marge reluctantly allows a fugitive to stay with the family.

Bart suspects that one of his friends is a rat when his seemingly fool-proof pranks start to backfire; Homer grows very attached to the fancy loaner car he gets after Marge damages their vehicle in an accident.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Homer takes Marge to the tunnel of love at a carnival, but when Bart pulls a prank they become hopelessly stranded; Homer tries to cheer Marge up by telling her a love story.

Season 19 Episode 2:

Homer of Seville

While receiving treatment for an injured back at the hospital, Homer discovers that he has a beautiful opera voice. Even though Homer must sing while lying on his back for his voice to sound operatic, Mr. Burns hires him to sing at the Springfield Opera House, where he quickly becomes a star. Through his newfound stardom, Homer develops a large throng of fans including the lovely Julia, an obsessive and dangerous stalker.

Homer turns into a rampaging blob after eating green goo; Bart brings to life Golem, a creature from Jewish folklore; a fake radio-broadcast convinces Springfield residents that there is an alien invasion.

Season 16 Episode 20:

Home Away From Homer; The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star

The Flanders family rents its rumpus room to a pair of college-age women, who use it to run a soft-core webcam; expelled Bart must go to a parochial school, where he befriends a hip priest named Father Sean.